Top club closed over food safety fears

One of Ireland’s premier private members’ clubs was served with a closure order over food safety fears.

An area of the exclusive Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club in Dublin was shut for four days last month by environmental officers.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland said it deemed there was, or there was likely to be, a grave and immediate danger to public health at or in the basement and yard area between Mar 26 and 30.

Six other food businesses were also rapped for breaches of food safety legislation last month, including:

* Ocean Palace Chinese Restaurant, Main Street, Swinford, Mayo — closed since Mar 23.

* Oriental Express takeaway, 140 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 — closed from Mar 21-26.

* The kitchen area of the Lemon Cafe Bar, 42 St Stephen’s Street, Dublin 2 — closed on Mar 14-15.

* Netpol grocery (sale and portioning of cooked meats, cheeses and all ready-to-eat foodstuffs), Unit 9, Tyrrelstown Avenue, Dublin 15 — closed on Mar 6-7.

* Thai Orchid restaurant, 7 Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2 — closed from Mar 6-13.

* The Superbites takeaway, New Street, Newmarket, Cork — closed from Mar 1-16.

Prof Alan Reilly, FSAI chief executive, said vigilance is always required in relation to food safety and standards must not be permitted to slip to such levels that consumer health is put at risk.

“Food business operators must recognise that the legal onus is on them to be responsible and ensure that the food they serve is safe to eat,” he said. “The FSAI has stressed again and again that a basic food safety management system is not difficult to implement, so it is disappointing that there continues to be food businesses who choose not to comply with this legal requirement.

“With the long weekend upon us, food businesses are going to be under more pressure than usual.

“During this busy period, food businesses need to be extra vigilant that safety standards do not slip. There’s no excuse for ignorance of the legal food safety and hygiene requirements,” he said.